Can’t believe I’m the first to rate this! This is Zhi’s version of a traditional Kashmiri chai, which uses a green tea base and, typically, all of the other spices in a black chai. Unfortunately for me and my almond love, this version does not include the also-traditional almonds.. but I’ll live.
Zhi’s version strays a bit from the traditional, anyway, with the inclusion of vanilla. The vanilla is barely perceptible, but I definitely think it grounds the tea with a sweetness not typically found in chai. It’s not that this tastes weak – it really doesn’t – it’s just an adjustment when you’re used to more powerful chais like I am. No one flavor really stands out; cinnamon is the most easily identifiable, with that sweet vanilla coming in at the end.
This is a lot different than I thought it would be. I wish it were just a bit stronger, but I like it.
